What English expression do you hate the most?

[Drago]

When Ant or Dec talk of a non-eating challenge as a 'bush tucker trial'.

Actually, almost anything said by Ant or Dec.

Drink driver and hair transplant?

 

[DaveReading]

‘erb is how the Americans pronounce it

Except, strangely, when it's used as a name (a contraction of Herbert) - then the "H" is pronounced.

So Herb Alpert, not 'Erb Albert.

 

[Psamathe]

"... difficult decisions", generally (or continuously) used by UK politicians (when what they should be doing is making "good decisions").

Ian

 

[Dave 123]

I mostly love the variety of regional and cultural dialects and accents, but the pronunciation of 'it' as 'ick' needs to stop.

He's only lickle, he's still in hospickal

Sounds like baby talk!

Similarly annoying is 'aks' for ask

Maybe a year or so ago I heard on the radio “menkle elf”. It was repeated too by the young woman. It was memorable!

 

[All uphill]

So many things to detest.

Where will I find the time?

 

[Dadam]

The so called British National Anthem has a second verse which goes on about crushing the Scots.
Seems to be conveniently forgotten about.

It's the alleged fourth verse.
But it was never official anyway.

Lord, grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring;
May he sedition hush,
and like a torrent rush
Rebellious Scots to crush!
God save the King!

And it's only talking about the rebellious ones anyway, so a tiny minority.

 

[Gwylan]

Maybe a year or so ago I heard on the radio “menkle elf”. It was repeated too by the young woman. It was memorable!

It's all tied up with elfin safety.

 

[DaveReading]

"... difficult decisions", generally (or continuously) used by UK politicians (when what they should be doing is making "good decisions").

Ian

It's the ones described as an "easy decision" that you need to worry about.

 

[Drago]

"... difficult decisions", generally (or continuously) used by UK politicians (when what they should be doing is making "good decisions").

Ian

They don't find decision making half as difficult being truthful.

 

[Gwylan]

"... difficult decisions", generally (or continuously) used by UK politicians (when what they should be doing is making "good decisions").

Ian

and bloody "doubling down"

 

[oldwheels]

I do not have the actual figures but I doubt that. Political propaganda.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Listen, we've always been very clear about this, we don't have the actual figures but we are doubling down on difficult decisions.

 

[Tribansman]

Look, let me be clear, hard working families up and down the country making difficult decisions are the bedrock of the Bridish people. Our thoughts and prayers are with slacking single wasters who going forward and by the end of the day need to stand up and be counted in our meritocracy.

 

[Conrad_K]

"Txtspk" deliberate misspelling ticks me off. But that seems to be mostly replaced by some kind of hiphop/gangbanger patois that, for lack of any other name, I call "raplish."

Even more annoying when they're used in business email and memoranda. And when I complained about it, I was somehow the bad guy for not accepting their "culture". For some reason my announcement I would henceforth assert my own culture and communicate by interpretive farting and tap-dancing was seen as an insult, and nearly got me fired.

 

[Conrad_K]

'Pukkah' is actually a Hindi word that has made it's way into English!

"English doesn't borrow from other languages. It follows other languages down dark alleys, clubs them over the head and rummages through their pockets for spare grammar."

-- James Nicoll, rec.arts.sf-lovers, May 15, 1990